What are some examples of the dark side of Disney stories?

One example is in 'Snow White'. The Evil Queen's jealousy is quite dark. She tries to kill Snow White out of envy for her beauty. Also, in 'The Little Mermaid', Ariel gives up her voice for a chance at love with a human, which can be seen as a rather dark aspect as she loses a crucial part of herself.

One 'Dark Side Disney Story' is the theory about the hidden meanings in 'Pinocchio'. Some believe that the Island of Pleasure where naughty boys turn into donkeys represents the dark side of temptation and the consequences of giving in to vices. Another is the idea that in 'Snow White', the Queen's obsession with beauty and her downfall can be seen as a dark exploration of vanity.

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frollo's obsessive and cruel nature towards Esmeralda is quite dark. He represents religious extremism and lust, which are dark themes. His actions of trying to hunt down Esmeralda because of his 'forbidden' desires are part of the story's darkness.

Well, 'Alice in Wonderland' can have some dark aspects. Alice's journey through a strange and often menacing world where she faces all kinds of odd and sometimes scary creatures. Also, in 'Beauty and the Beast', Beast's initial rage and the idea of a young girl being held captive in a castle, even if it has a happy ending, has a bit of a dark undertone. Then there's 'Peter Pan'. Captain Hook's character and his vendetta against Peter are dark elements, and the idea of the Lost Boys being in Neverland forever without really growing up has a strange and somewhat dark side.

For Cinderella, there could be a dark side story in how her stepsisters and stepmother treated her so cruelly. However, from the stepsisters' perspective, they might have been pressured by their mother to be that way in order to secure a better future for themselves. And in the case of Belle from Beauty and the Beast, some might say that her being so willing to stay with the Beast, a creature who had kidnapped her father, has a bit of a dark undertone. But she was also trying to save her father.

There are stories about the overcrowding and long wait times which can be considered a 'dark side' in a way. People might spend hours in line for a ride, getting frustrated and tired. This can sometimes ruin the overall magical experience that Disney World is supposed to offer. Also, the high prices for food, souvenirs, and tickets can be a burden for some families, making it less accessible and enjoyable for them.

In 'Bambi', the death of Bambi's mother is a very dark moment. It's a sudden and tragic event that many children find quite disturbing. In 'Sleeping Beauty', Maleficent's curse on Aurora is also dark. She curses an innocent baby just because she wasn't invited to a party. This shows extreme vengeance and malevolence.

One dark side is the lack of agency in some stories. For example, Snow White. She was mainly a passive character, waiting to be rescued by the prince. Another is the emphasis on beauty as the most important trait. Cinderella was only noticed by the prince because of her beauty at the ball. And in some princess stories, there is a kind of class divide that is not really challenged. The princesses often end up with princes, which might give the idea that marrying into royalty is the only way to a happy ending.

In the dark version of 'Cinderella', her stepsisters are even more cruel. They not only make her do all the housework but also physically abuse her. Also, in the 'Beauty and the Beast' story, the Beast's curse was initially due to his own pride and cruelty, and in some darker interpretations, the Beast is more menacing before his transformation. For instance, he might have been a more tyrannical ruler in his castle before being cursed.

One example is 'Snow White'. The Evil Queen's attempts to kill Snow White are quite dark. She orders the huntsman to bring back Snow White's heart, and later uses a poisoned apple. Another is 'Sleeping Beauty'. Maleficent curses Aurora to prick her finger on a spindle and die, which is a rather dark element in the story. And in 'The Little Mermaid', Ariel gives up her voice and endures great pain to be with the prince, which has some dark undertones as well.